Sarah pushed through the rusty metal exit door, her heels clicking rapidly on the wet iron steps of the fire escape.
Cold rain soaked through her clothes as she rushed down to the dark alleyway behind the building.
She took five quick steps toward the street before a tall figure stepped out from behind a large metal dumpster, blocking her path.
Victor stood under the dim yellow alley light, holding an open umbrella, his face twisted in a menacing smile.
Victor: Running around in the dark, Sarah? That doesn't look very dignified for the heiress of Vance Enterprises.
Sarah: Get out of my way, Victor!
Victor: Give me the flash drive, Sarah. I know Clara gave it to you.
Sarah: You're going to prison, Victor! You and your uncle both!
Victor took two slow, deliberate steps forward, his polished shoes splashing in the rain puddles.
Victor: Do you really think a cheap little USB drive is going to stop a fifty-million-dollar merger?
Sarah: It proves you committed felony forgery while my father was in a coma!
Victor: It's your word against mine, Sarah. And in eight hours, the board will vote to remove you from the company entirely.
Sarah backed away, her hand clutching the silver drive inside her pocket.
Sarah: The board won't vote for a criminal, Victor!
Victor: The board members are receiving two hundred thousand dollars each in consulting fees from my father's firm tomorrow morning. They don't care about your little flash drive.
Sarah: You bribed the entire corporate board?!
Victor: It's called business, my dear. Now hand over the drive before I have to take it from you by force.
Suddenly, bright white headlights illuminated the alleyway as a heavy black SUV pulled in from the street, blocking Victor from behind.
The driver's side door opened, and Mark Vance stepped out into the rain, accompanied by two uniformed police officers.
Mark: Put your hands where we can see them, Victor!
Victor spun around in shock, his umbrella dropping into the wet puddle at his feet.
Victor: Mark?! What is the meaning of this?!
Officer Ramirez: Victor Sterling, stay right where you are! Do not move your hands!
Victor: Officers, this is a private family matter! My wife is suffering from severe emotional distress!
Sarah: I'm not distressed, Victor. I recorded every word of your confession just now on my smartphone!
Sarah pulled her glowing phone from her left coat pocket, displaying the active recording app screen.
Sarah: "It's called business, my dear." You admitted to bribing the board members on tape!
Victor's jaw dropped as Officer Ramirez stepped forward, grabbing Victor's arms and pinning him against the wet brick wall.
Victor: Sarah, wait! We can talk about this! We can renegotiate the terms of the settlement!
Sarah: The only thing you're negotiating now is your bail amount, Victor.
The steel handcuffs clicked tightly around Victor's wrists, making him wince in pain.
Officer Ramirez: You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
Victor: You can't do this to me! Do you know who my father is?!
Mark: Your father is currently being questioned by state investigators at his home, Victor. The whole house of cards just collapsed.
Sarah stepped up to Victor, looking him dead in the eye as the rain poured around them.
Sarah: How dare you ever lay your hands on me or try to steal my father's legacy.
Victor was dragged toward the police cruiser, screaming furiously into the night as the red and blue lights flashed against the alley walls.